RELIGIOUS LEADERS KILLED IN CHECHNYA

Khasmagomed Umalatov, the imam of the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya, was killed in the evening of January 6. He died of seven bullet wounds on the threshold of his home. The father and son Idrisovs, brother and nephew of Umar Idrisov, the mufti of Urus-Martan who died six months ago, were killed later into the night of January 9. Ayup Idrisov, 73, was shot dead in the yard of his own house. His 35-year-old son Khamzat who rushed out of the house upon hearing the noise, was also killed from an automatic gun. Yet another clergyman who was killed in Chechnya earlier today is Magomed Khasuyev, a 70-year-old imam of the mosque in Germenchuk village. Khasuyev was shot dead at dawn in the yard of his own house when he went out into the street to perform a morning prayer. For more than ten years Khasuyev has headed the clergy of Germenchuk village. Investigations have begun inot the cases, RIA Novosti reports.